Dental bridges

What it is

A traditional bridge has three parts, made as one piece. Crowns go on the abutments, the teeth on each side of the gap. The false tooth between them, called a pontic, is held over the gap like a bridge across a river.

There are other kinds too. A bonded bridge is held by small wings glued to the backs of the teeth beside the gap, so those teeth need little shaping. Other bridges rest on dental implants instead of natural teeth.

Who it helps

A bridge may suit you if you’re missing one tooth, or a few in a row, and the teeth on each side are strong enough to hold crowns. It works especially well when those teeth already have large fillings, since crowning them protects them too.

Replacing a missing tooth matters for more than looks. The teeth beside a gap can tip into it, and the tooth above or below can drift into the space. Over time, your bite can shift, and food can pack into the new gaps.

A bridge usually isn’t the right choice if the teeth beside the gap are weak, or loose from gum disease.

What happens

A bridge usually takes two visits, a few weeks apart.

1. Numbing and shaping. We numb the teeth on each side of the gap. Your dentist trims a thin layer from each so the crowns can fit over them. You’ll feel vibration and pressure.
2. Impressions. We take an impression (a mold or a scan) of your teeth and match the shade. A dental lab uses it to make the bridge.
3. A temporary bridge. You’ll wear a temporary bridge to protect the shaped teeth while the lab works. Avoid sticky and hard foods on that side.
4. Fitting. At the next visit, your dentist checks the fit, color, and bite of the new bridge, then cements it in place. Small adjustments are normal.
5. Learning to clean it. We’ll show you how to clean under the false tooth. This keeps the teeth holding the bridge healthy, and that’s what helps a bridge last.

Recovery and aftercare

The teeth holding the bridge may be sore or sensitive to cold for a few days. Start with softer foods, and chew normally once it feels comfortable. It may take a week or two before the bridge feels like part of your mouth.

Clean under the false tooth every day. Food and plaque collect there, and the teeth holding the bridge can decay where the crowns meet the gum. A floss threader, bridge floss, or a water flosser makes it easier.

Cost and insurance

The cost of a bridge depends on how many teeth it replaces, the material, and whether the supporting teeth need other treatment first. Because it’s several crowns made as one piece, a bridge usually costs more than a single crown.

Many dental plans cover part of the cost of a bridge as major care. Some have a missing-tooth rule that limits coverage for a tooth lost before the plan started. A pre-treatment estimate from your plan can show what to expect, and insurance and financing explains other ways to pay.

Alternatives

• A dental implant. An implant replaces the tooth’s root with a small post in the jawbone, topped with a crown. It leaves the teeth beside the gap alone, but it takes months, involves minor surgery, and often costs more up front.
• A partial denture. A removable partial denture fills one or more gaps and clips onto your natural teeth. It usually costs less and needs little shaping of other teeth, but you take it out to clean it, and some people find it bulky.
• Leaving the gap. This is a real option, especially for a back tooth that doesn’t affect your bite much. The trade-off is that nearby teeth may shift over time. Your dentist can tell you how likely that is for you.